Cain Velasquez: The Strong, Silent Type

The former UFC heavyweight champion is a throwback to the days of the strong, silent type, where he speaks softly and carries a big stick.

He’s not a fighter who talks smack or tries to get under the skin of his opponent’s by playing mind games. Velasquez is a smash mouth fighter akin to old school football players like Dick Butkus or Deacon Jones, who would rather tackle and wreak havoc as opposed to talk about how they were going to beat you.

So it’s without much surprise that heading into his UFC 146 bout against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, the quiet Velasquez doesn’t have any disparaging words for his opponent, only compliments. He doesn’t predict a first round knockout, only an exciting fight.

In truth however, Velasquez is more like a hurricane that builds power as the weeks and days to the fight move closer, and right now is the quiet before the storm.

“I’ve watched him a couple of times in Strikeforce, and we already have a good idea of what he does and the type of opponents that he’s faced,” Velasquez told MMAWeekly.com about his opponent.

For the first time in his MMA career, Velasquez is however facing unknown waters.

In his last trip to the Octagon, Velasquez tasted defeat for the first time ever when he was knocked out by current UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos. It did serve as a certain kind of wake up call, but Velasquez isn’t the type of fighter to freak out or believe that everything he was doing leading up to that fight was wrong.

“The best thing you can do is just watch film, see what you did wrong in the film, and just take a look at that going into your next fight. Just try to get better that way that’s all you really can do,” Velasquez stated.

“I definitely feel better now. I just took some time off after that fight and kind of relaxed and then put my body back to work to where it needs to be. I took time getting back into training camp. I felt really good instead of rushing into training camp, and kind of beating up your body when it’s already beat up.”

Even the change of opponents heading into UFC 146 didn’t rattle the former Arizona State wrestler.

Originally, Velasquez was set to face Frank Mir on the Las Vegas card with a guaranteed shot at the UFC heavyweight belt on the line. When Alistair Overeem was removed from the show following a failed drug test, Mir was yanked from the fight and placed in the main event bout instead.

Like he always does, Velasquez just rolled with the punches and at this point he’s not even sure that a title shot it still on the line. He’s just worried about going on and putting Silva away, and then the UFC will decide what’s best for him.

“I’m not sure, we have to wait and see what the UFC decides afterwards, but all I’m thinking about is my fight with Silva and putting on a good show,” Velasquez stated.

“With the fight against Frank (Mir) the winner of our fight would have had the chance to fight for the title, so we’re really close there we just don’t know if it’s going to happen or not with this fight. We’ll just let it rest with the UFC and just see what they decide.”

If you flat out ask Velasquez what his prediction is for Saturday night, he once again defers to his performance. He’s not going to use words like destroy or annihilate or even dominate.

His words may be calm, cool and collected, but Cain Velasquez is just waiting to unleash his inner beast on Saturday night, and then everyone can almost guarantee the storm is coming.

If a white guy has a white pride tattoo he’d be racist. So cain must be a racist. Normally I would root for an American, but not this racist pig!

macgrubber

could not agree more.

chronosun

The reason for that is because historically when a white person has become prideful it ended up with people being forced into concentration camps or hung from trees. Dont hate on Cain bro, hate the stupid ass white guys who ruined it for the rest of you.

flash831

no mother******! we mexicans didnt try to ****** exterminate a whole RACE! they are just super hard workers, something that white folks clearly are not.

1canadiankid78

Hey Booker T, your a moron for making a comment like that.

RubeKegal

its true though.

Booker T

I’ve been called worse. Sometimes the truth hurts. But if I had “WHITE PRIDE” tatooed on my chest, I’d probably be litrally kicked out of the UFC. Beat to a pulp!

Dayrelphareal

Yeah Booker T is an idiot.

rsnowbass

Talk about reaching for material for an article…Cain is THAT interesting eh’?

As for Booker T – everyone is entitled to their own opinions. If I had make assumptions on your assesment here, I’d argue Cian’s heritage and (I’m not sure here) immediate family is from Mexico, thus showing pride for a country he is from, but does not currently live in.

“White Pride” will always be associated with Neo-natzi’s, Skinheads, and the KKK. Those are just the facts.

I’d just try to do your best to get over it. Is what it is.

bigwurm

Say what you want about Booker T he is right.

rsnowbass

The ironic thing about Booker T’s position here is his username.

Go back into America’s history book – 100 years back to be specific. I’m sure he isn’t educated at all on his own username.

so in other words, you are a wigger? That explains alot. I get it its Eminem #2! Can’t you white boys just act white instead of copying other races?

Booker T

don’t care for eminem. Kid Rocks the man!

macgrubber

Who cares if he is educated on his username or not. It doesnt take a genius to see that if some1 was in any sport with “White Pride” on them they would be kicked out and called racist. But Cain is considered an outstanding kinda guy because he is showing pride for his heritage and country. Guess we have to get used to it since those kinda people are becoming the majority now. god help the usa.

bajafox

That’s a big if and since it will most likely never happen you guys should quit whining about it.

jonnypatrick

Not sure if you read the news Bajafox but as of last week white people are now the minority on new births in the USA. I’m no genius but that tells me that within 20 years whitey will be the minority. Thanks to all the liberal democrats in this country allowing illegal immigrants to come to our country and have a baby and then the parents become citizens.

bajafox

jonnypatrick, I don’t like liberals as much as the next guy and as an American citizen born in Mexico I am afraid what the future of America holds for us.

I say deport them all

macgrubber

Its a big “IF” because “IF” a white guy got that he would be out a job and basically crucified for it. So your right it most likely wont ever happen because there are consequences for a white guy to do it but praise for some1 else to do it. Love the double standards.

rsnowbass

If you were educated yourself, and understood what Booker T Washington stood for back in the 1800’s you’d shut the F*ck up and get a good laugh out of this…

rsnowbass

Wow…when I read this myself it sounds pretty hostile. While I don’t take it back…I’ll finish with a CHEERS!

bajafox

LOL. There are people with ‘White Pride’ tattoo’s all over Amerka, they’re just not in a position to be on TV fighting for the heavy weight championship of the world. You guys sound more like haters than anything else.

“If” a white guy was up there he’d be beat to a pulp and kicked out of the UFC, that’s big fkn IF…hahahahahaha!!

Keep drinking the Haterade and get used to seeing ‘Brown Pride’ on your television sets every time you pay $50 to see Cain fight, or in HD if you pay the extra $15, haha

Booker T

Skin color is just color and doesn’t matter. We’re all in this together.

elguapo

Now then chaps, what’s all the fuss about? I’m not from the US, I’m from England, so I’m kind of looking at this from an outside perspective. Now forgive me if I’m wrong but unless you are of native American origin, aren’t all you Americans “immigrants” or immediate descendants of immigrants? There’s nothing more interesting in this world than when different cultures mix together, learn together, enjoy life together and see what’s made. It strikes me that there seems to be a “yes we are descended from immigrants, but we were here first” mentality in the States, you guys don’t know how lucky you are.

On the flip side though, I do feel Cain’s tattoo is a tad provocative. But that’s only assuming it is racially motivated, has anyone actually asked him what it means? Also, I’m sure I saw what looked similar to an iron cross inked on dustin poirier’s thigh in his last fight, which is very similar to nazi insignia. But seriously, who cares? This person is one man. It’s up to us as individuals to form our own opinions, but more importantly, it’s up to us to respect and tolerate the opinions of others. Now let’s sit back and let the fuc*kers fight, that’s what we’re here for isn’t it?

adam1848

Thank you!

adam1848

I say Cain by tko in the first. Don’t see Big Foot bringing anything to this fight Cain hasn’t see or can’t handle. Not sure if this win would make him the #1 contender or not? For sure he’s next in line if Mir wins, but A) I don;t see that happening, and B) it might be too soon for a JDS / Velasquez rematch.